Special Olympic Athletes Melissa Riveros, Colin Lennon and Brett Williams currently train at Patch Reef Tennis Center with Howard Chodak, USTA Master Professional and Director of Tennis Development for Special Olympics Florida. Recently Chodak took Lennon and Williams to The Special Olympics North America Tennis Championship sponsored by the PTR at VanDerMeer Tennis Facility in Hilton Head Island, SC.

Lennon, 32, competed in orange ball play, a slightly smaller court and lower compression ball. He won a gold medal in his division. Williams, 29, competed in the green dot ball division, a regular size court, and he won gold also. Then, the athletes teamed up to play doubles and defeated the favored South Carolina team in a fantastic showing in the gold medal round.

Congrats to Coach Howard Chodak and his athletes on bringing home the GOLD!!!

Lendl first attained the World No 1. ranking on February 28, 1983 and bolstered his claim to the top spot when he defeated John McEnroe in the 1984 French Open final. For much of the next five years, Lendl was the top ranked player until August 1990. He finished four years ranked as the world's top player (1985 - 1987 and 1989) and was ranked World No. 1 for a total of 270 weeks, breaking the record previously held by Jimmy Connors. (This has since been surpassed by Pete Sampras and Roger Federer).

Ruth Bayer celebrated her 93rd Birthday on June 2, 2011 at Patch Reef Park Tennis Center. Ruth is a permit holder and has been playing tennis at Patch Reef Park Tennis Center for the past 20 years. She plays on the morning team with all male players’ and she gives them a run for their money. It is a pleasure to watch Ruth play with her follow teammates. Happy Birthday Ruth and many many more!